BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 741
80R3877 TAD-D By: King, Tracy et al. (Zaffirini)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, children of full-paid firefighters, full-paid police officers, and volunteer firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty are exempt from payment of tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education. However, volunteer peace officers are not included in this exemption. Volunteer peace officers receive the same training and fulfill the same duties as full-paid officers, but are often only found in small, rural communities.
H.B. 741 expands eligibility for the exemption of tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education to the dependents of volunteer law enforcement officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 54.204, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 54.204. CHILDREN OF DISABLED FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 54.204(a), (b), (g), and (h), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Defines "eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer." Redefines "disability." Deletes existing definition of "eligible employee."
(b) Requires the governing board of each institution of higher education to exempt from the payment of all dues, fees, and charges any person whose parent is an eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer, rather than eligible employee, who has suffered an injury resulting in death or disability, sustained in the line of duty according to the regulations and criteria then in effect governing the department or agency in which the eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer volunteered or was employed.
(g) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(h) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2007 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.